Drainage solution must be found as loss of productive land is not an option warns NFU

Huge areas of productive agricultural West Lancashire land in the Lower Alt with Crossens area will be lost if farmers don’t make their views and ideas forcibly known to the Environment Agency, the NFU is warning.

In the spring of 2015, the Environment Agency will stop their land drainage work within the pumped drainage catchment, leaving it at serious risk of flooding if suitable alternative arrangements are not put in place.

NFU North West Environment Adviser, Richard Potts, said: “Draining the Lower Alt with Crossens area currently costs the Environment Agency somewhere in the region of £3 million per annum. The NFU realises that limited Environment Agency funding means this cannot continue in its current format but withdrawing such a service without finding workable alternatives will have significant detrimental effects on farming and food production.

“For those reasons the NFU will be monitoring this situation closely to make sure farmers in the area have ample opportunity to have their say on the matter.”

The Environment Agency has produced a draft strategic plan which is open for consultation until Friday 2 December. The plan will guide the Environment Agency on how water should be managed in the Lower Alt and Crossens catchments in the future. It comes complete with a feedback form which the NFU is urging all farmers to fill in and return.

“With a growing population and a need to produce more food while safeguarding the environment, the loss of highly productive land on this scale is totally unacceptable so a solution must be found. Engagement with farmers is therefore vital so the NFU will consult with its members, organise meetings if required and will help in any way it can,” assured Richard.

Copies of the consultation document can be picked up from the NFU Regional Office on Moss Lane View in Skelmersdale, Lancashire or by contacting Richard Potts on 01695 554900.

Notes to editors:
• For more information or a photograph of Richard Potts, please contact NFU Press Officer, Carl Hudspith, on 01695 554913.
• Currently, the Environment Agency manage a pumping station at Crossens and Altmouth and a number of satellite pumping stations that provide land drainage to rural areas of the catchment as well as 26km of raised flood defence embankments.

The NFU is the voice of British farming and provides professional representation and services to its farmer and grower members.